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Felipe Massa announces his retirement from F1, again

Williams driver uses social media for announcement

November 4, 2017

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Felipe Massa has announced his Formula 1 retirement for the second time in two seasons, but this time it really will be the end.

Massa, a Formula 1 veteran of 15 seasons between 2002 and 2017, has decided that his time in the sport is now up. Having made it clear from an early stage that he wanted a decision on his future to be made before his home Grand Prix next week in Brazil, the 36-year-old can be given the send-off that he deserves.

“I take so many great memories with me as I prepare for my final two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and although they will be emotional, I am looking forward to ending on a high note and preparing for a new chapter in my career,” said Massa.

Having also announced retirement plans ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2016, Massa was quickly called back into action for the current season when Nico Rosberg’s retirement caused a ripple in the driver market. To fill Rosberg’s vacant seat at Mercede, Valtteri Bottas left Williams a driver short.

There appear to now be five serious candidates, including current Williams F1 driver Felipe Massa, to be Lance Stroll's 2018 teammate at Williams.Massa, 36, hasn't had a victory since 2008 or ...

While his career involved stints driving for Sauber and Williams, Massa will be remembered for his time at Ferrari and, more specifically, his part in the 2008 title race.

Having taken the checkered flag in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix -- the last of his 11 wins -- it appeared that he had done enough to claim the championship trophy for himself. Then came the news that Lewis Hamilton had passed Timo Glock for fifth place and the atmosphere flipped 180 in a millisecond. By just one point, Massa was denied a career-defining world title.

In 2009, while still at Ferrari, Massa came close to death after his helmet was struck by a spring that had flown off the rear of countryman Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP car in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

While still an undeniable talent, Massa never quite reached the same heights after the accident and would leave Ferrari at the end of 2013 to join Williams, where he would enjoy a four-year stint yielding five podiums.

“I would like to thank Felipe for all he has done for the team over the last four years. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with him,” said Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams. “We are especially grateful that he agreed to postpone his retirement from F1 for a year, after Valtteri joined Mercedes, which demonstrated the depth of the relationship we built during our time together.

“We appreciate that it wasn't an easy decision for him to return, after having such an emotional send-off at the end of last year. On behalf of Sir Frank (Williams, owner and team principal), and all the team, we give our very best wishes to Felipe for the future.”